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Diabetes
mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar)
in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly.
Glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods such as bread,
rice, potatoes, chapatis, yams and plantain, from sugar and other
sweet foods, and from the liver which makes glucose. |
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Insulin is vital for life. It is a hormone produced by the pancreas, that helps the glucose to enter the cells where it is used as fuel by the body. The main symptoms of untreated diabetes are increased thirst, going to the loo all the time – especially at night, extreme tiredness, weight loss, genital itching or regular episodes of thrush, and blurred vision.
There are two main types of diabetes. These are:
Type
1 diabetes, also known as insulin dependent diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, also known as non insulin dependent
diabetes
Type 1 diabetes develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40. It is treated by insulin injections and diet and regular exercise is recommended.
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though in South Asian and African-Caribbean people often appears after the age of 25. It is treated by diet and exercise alone or by diet, exercise and tablets or by diet, exercise and insulin injections.
The main aim of treatment of both types of diabetes is to achieve blood glucose and blood pressure levels as near to normal as possible. This, together with a healthy lifestyle, will help to improve wellbeing and protect against long-term damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and major arteries.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
The main symptoms of diabetes are:
Type 1 diabetes develops much more quickly, usually over a few weeks, and symptoms are normally very obvious.
In both types of diabetes, the symptoms are quickly relieved once the diabetes is treated. Early treatment will also reduce the chances of developing serious health problems.
Who gets diabetes and what causes it?
Diabetes is a common health condition. More than two million people in the UK are known to have diabetes — that’s about three in every 100 people. And there are an estimated one million people in the UK who have diabetes but don't know it. Over three-quarters of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes.
Although
the condition can occur at any age, it is rare in infants and becomes
more common as people get older.
Type
1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes develops when the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas
have been destroyed. Nobody knows for sure why these cells have been
damaged but the most likely cause is an abnormal reaction of the body
to the cells. This may be triggered by a viral or other infection. This
type of diabetes generally affects younger people. Both sexes are affected
equally.
Type
2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes used to be called 'maturity onset' diabetes because
it usually appears in middle-aged or elderly people, although it does
occasionally appear in younger people. The main causes are that the
body no longer responds normally to its own insulin, and/or that the
body does not produce enough insulin.
People who are overweight are particularly likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. It tends to run in families and is more common in Asian and African-Caribbean communities. Some people wrongly describe Type 2 diabetes as 'mild' diabetes. There is no such thing as mild diabetes. All diabetes should be taken seriously and treated properly.
Diabetes UK publishes free Are you at risk? leaflets in English and various other languages.
Other
causes of diabetes
There are some other causes of diabetes, including certain diseases
of the pancreas, but they are all very rare. Sometimes an accident or
an illness may reveal diabetes if it is already there, but they do not
cause it.
Although diabetes cannot be cured, it can be treated very successfully. Knowing why people with diabetes develop high blood glucose levels will help to you understand how some of the treatments work.
Blood glucose
levels
When sugar and starchy foods have been digested, they turn into glucose.
If somebody has diabetes, the glucose in their body is not turned into
energy, either because there is not enough insulin in their body, or
because the insulin that the body produces is not working properly.
This causes the liver to make more glucose than usual but the body still
cannot turn the glucose into energy. The body then breaks down its stores
of fat and protein to try to release more glucose but still this glucose
cannot be turned into energy. This is why people with untreated diabetes
often feel tired and lose weight. The unused glucose passes into the
urine, which is why people with untreated diabetes pass large amounts
of urine and are extremely thirsty.
Type 1 diabetes is treated by injections of insulin and a healthy diet. Type 2 diabetes is treated by a healthy diet or by a combination of a healthy diet and tablets. Sometimes people with Type 2 diabetes also have insulin injections, although they are not totally 'dependent' on the insulin.
Treatments
for Type 1 diabetes
People with Type 1 diabetes need injections of insulin for the rest
of their lives and also need to eat a healthy diet that contains the
right balance of foods. Insulin cannot be taken by mouth because it
is destroyed by the digestive juices in the stomach. People with this
type of diabetes commonly take either two or four injections of insulin
each day.
If you or someone close to you needs insulin injections, your doctor or diabetes nurse will talk to you, show you how to do them and give you support and help. They will also show you how you can do a simple blood or urine test at home to measure your glucose levels. This will enable you to adjust your insulin and diet according to your daily routine. Your doctor or diabetes nurse will advise you what to do if your glucose level is too low.
If you have Type 1 diabetes, your insulin injections are vital to keep you alive and you must have them every day.
Treatments
for Type 2 diabetes
People with Type 2 diabetes need to eat a healthy diet that contains
the right balance of foods. If your doctor or diabetes nurse finds that
this alone is not enough to keep your blood glucose levels normal, you
may also need to take tablets.
There are several kinds of tablets for people with Type 2 diabetes. Some kinds help your pancreas to produce more insulin. Other kinds help your body to make better use of the insulin that your pancreas does produce. Another type of tablet slows down the speed at which the body absorbs glucose from the intestine.
Your doctor will decide which kinds of tablet are going to work best for you and may prescribe more than one kind. Your doctor or diabetes nurse will tell you all about the tablets, when to take them, and how to monitor your blood or urine glucose levels.
Reducing the risk of serious health problems
People with diabetes have a higher chance of developing certain serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, circulation problems, nerve damage, and damage to the kidneys and eyes. The risk is particularly high for people with diabetes who are also very overweight, who smoke or who are not physically active.
You will greatly reduce your risk of developing any of these complications by controlling your blood glucose and blood pressure levels, and by eating healthily and doing regular physical activity.
Regular
medical check-ups
In the last 10 to 20 years, the care for people with diabetes has improved
dramatically. One of the most important developments has been improved
methods of screening which will help your doctor to pick up any health
problems at an early stage so they can be treated more successfully.
This is why having regular medical check-ups, at least annually, is so important.
Make a donation (a personal plea)
As Managing Director of Sure Solutions Ltd in Llantwit Major and a sufferer of Type 1 diabetes I have decided to help raise awareness of diabetes and Diabetes UK. There is a lot of ignorance and false points of view out there about diabetes that even I once believed in. Since being diagnoses with Type 1 diabetes in April 2005 I have noticed the life-changing effects and day to day occurrences that must be adgered to, such as 4 injections to the stomach and numerous daily finger-prick blood test. In order to promote the true reasons, symptoms and treatments, Diabetes UK needs money. They also need money in order to research cures, treatments and hopefully vaccines.
For this reason, if you would like to help, please visit the link below and make a secure donation on-line. Your donation does not have to be large, any amount is appreciated and will be graciously received.
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